New terraces for a new season. By Christopher St. Cavish.

There have been a lot of grating articles for the last six months, teasing with their descriptions that end with “the terrace will be great come spring.” Well, it is spring (almost), and high time these new places, or places with a new reason to visit, got the chance to do what they were made for: soak up the sun.

El Willy

Sure, we made fun of El Willy’s name, but only before it opened. Since then, the psychedelic Willy has been cooking up a Spanish storm and the Diage house, Willy’s new digs, has never been busier. But The Willy better get ready for more; he’s gearing up to open the spacious outdoor garden area, almost doubling the restaurant’s capacity. He’s got a few tricks up his short sleeves, though. It will be open starting April 1, but seating out there will be limited, as will the menu. And it’s all hush-hush – the grand opening isn’t until April 18, when he’ll let everyone in on what he’s doing with the space. Oh hell, we’ll just tell you: he’s going to hang the space with fresh, fragrant herbs like rosemary, thyme, and lemon verbena, throw the menu onto a blackboard, and gear up for a weekend market with a new organic farmer he’s been working with.

El Willy, 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Lu, 5404 5757.
东湖路20号，近淮海路

roomtwentyeight

The smartest of the new terraces, to be sure, is at roomtwentyeight, the Wagas Group’s restaurant at the urbn hotel. Skies were grey when this “green hotel” opened at the end of 2007, and roomtwentyeight set out their new furniture only last week. The appeal of the place is in its hidden, Zen location of stacked slate, zig-zagged brick floors, white pebbles, bamboo stand, and soon-to-be-shady trees. The tablecloths might be white, but don’t be put off – the vibe of the place is casual, not pretentious, and set lunches are either ¥98 or ¥128 during the week, depending on how many courses you want.

At the urbn hotel, 183 Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu, 5172 1300
胶州路183号, 近新闸路

Effigie

Last time the new sun was out, this was Thai restaurant Graraagaa. This time around, it’s a French-style café with organic coffee, and a brand new wooden terrace. Their menu hasn’t exactly drawn in crowds, but they’ve just re-vamped, with a better menu of pizza, pasta, and panini. Still, their strength is in their selection of coffees: organic, Blue Mountain, Brazilian, Colombian, charcoal roasted sumiyaki style, and others, and prices start at ¥18. That prime terrace on prime real estate, overlooking Changle Lu, is starting to seem real smart.

433 Changle Lu, near Fumin Lu, 5404 2273
长乐路433号, 近富民路

Bonito

If you need a bottle of good, Spanish wine to make your outdoor afternoon complete, Bonito is the best place. Markups on the wine list are about the same as it costs to get here in a taxi, with many quality bottles to choose from. Atalayas de Golban, anyone? The kitchen is still going through some teething issues, but that’s not affecting the wine or the sunshine.

Unit 1101, High Street Loft, 508 Jiashan Lu, near Jianguo Lu, 5465 1871
嘉善路508号1101铺, 近建国路

Mansion

It’s been just over a year since our first lovely, spring lunch at the Mansion, full of chirping birds, a brisk breeze, friendly rainbows, and views not yet ruined by gleaming high-rises. We all know what happened since then, but at least their fall happened in winter. Now, with Sean Jorgensen at the controls, formerly the big man at Finestre, the Mansion is back on the terrace map. Jorgensen’s re-done the menu with his bright Californian fruit-and-seafood style, practically invented by the sun itself.

83 Xinle Lu, near Xiangyang Lu, 5403 9888
新乐路83号, 近襄阳路

Casa 13

Ah, you forgot about Casa 13’s patio, didn’t you? When you think of this place, you think of intimate, cosy dinners in the tiny dining room, or maybe the glassed-in annex, but not the black wicker furniture and green plants just outside it. Think again. Chef-owner Eduardo Vargas has been gearing up to the change the menu as well. Somehow, stewed beef cheeks and earthy beets just don’t fit anymore. Cucumber tea sandwiches, Eduardo?
Unit 13, Lane 1100 Huashan Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu, 5238 2782